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A sophisticated analysis of Australia's disease burden

In May this year, the AIHW released its much-anticipated report, Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2011. This report, the third national Australian Burden of Disease Study, updates previous estimates of Australia's disease burden.

'Burden of disease analysis is a way to compare the impact of different diseases, conditions or injuries on a population, including both the fatal and non-fatal impacts,' said Dr Lynelle Moon, co-author and Acting Head of the Institute's Health Group.

These studies also estimate how much of the burden can be attributed to various risk factors. 'Overall, this study provides a comprehensive and sophisticated picture of Australians' health,' Dr Moon said.

This information supports health service planning, particularly when responding to the increased burden associated with chronic disease.

'There is also significant potential for extension analyses, including scenario modelling of various policy options and relating it to disease expenditure data.'

Most burden is caused by chronic disease—and much of the burden is preventable

The five disease groups that caused the most burden were cancer, cardiovascular diseases, mental and substance use disorders, musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Together, these accounted for 66% of the total burden.

Coronary heart disease, back pain and problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, as the leading specific diseases, contributed 18% of the total burden.

The study also shows that around one-third of the burden of disease in 2011 was preventable, being due to the modifiable risk factors included in this study.